Compass



1970 YASUHIKO TSUNEMI 3,550,282

COMPASS Filed July 28, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.6 FIG.7

I N VEN 'I'OR.

YASUHIKO TSUNEMI aw w;

ATTORNEYS 1970 YASUHIKO TSUNEM'I 3,550,232

COMPAS 5 Filed July 28, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN'TOR.

YA SUHIKO TSUNEMI BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,550,282 COMPASS Yasuhiko Tsunemi, 18-5 Higashi-Ueno 2-chome,

Daito-ku, Tokyo, Japan Filed July 28, 1969, Ser. No. 845,135 Claims priority, application Japan, Dec. 29, 1968 (utility model), 43/114,583 Int. Cl. B431 9/02 US. CI. 33-27 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A compass device tailored to adapt itself as a propelling pencil, comprising a first leg having a longitudinal slot for receiving a clip member adapted to clip the compass in a pocket, a second leg having a cylindrical portion wherein a mechanism is accommodated for propelling pencil lead, said cylindrical portion having a longitudinal recess along its entire length for engagement with said first leg when the two legs are closed, and a center pin of the compass retractively supported by said first leg.

This invention relates to drafting instruments and more particularly to a compass tailored to adapt itself as a propelling pencil.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a compass structure which may be advantageously used as a propelling pencil should the necessity arise.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compass of the type described, which compass is simple in construction, easy to handle and may be safely clipped in a pocket.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, a reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the various figures.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the compass device constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the compass legs in closed disposition;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the compass in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IVIV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through a first leg of the compass;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a second leg of the compass;

FIG. 8 is a back view of a modified structure;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the same;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the compass legs in spread or open position; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line XI-XI in FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the compass device 12 of my invention includes a first leg 13 and a second leg 14 pivotally connected therewith by a pin member 15 extending transversely across and supported securely in the lower end portion of a sectionally inverted =U-shaped connecting member or cap 16. It will be appreciated that the connecting member 16 serves also as a knob for spinning the compass when drawing circles.

As seen from FIGS. 1 through 6, the first leg 13 has its upper portion wider than its lower portion. The upper portion of the first leg 13 is generally arcuate or U-shaped in section while the lower portion is of closed annular "ice cross-section. The arcuate upper portion has a longitudinal slot as at 17 for guiding therealong a clip member 18 adapted to clip the compass device in a pocket or the like and has in the inner surface thereof a series of longitudinally disposed notches 19. Slidably guided through the sectionally annular lower portion of the first leg 13 is a center pin 20 which has an upper extension 21 of rectangular cross section, the upper end of which extension passing through and securely held within the clip member 18 so that the center pin 20 may be exposed from or retracted into the first leg 13, whichever the case may be, as the clip member 18 is moved longitudinally along the slot 17. Interposed between the center pin member 20 and the clip member 18 is a leaf spring 22 which retains these members resiliently in place with respect to the first leg 13 as shown in FIG. 6, for which purpose the spring 22 has its lower portion angularly deformed as seen at 23 so that its angular projection 23 may come resiliently into engagement with one of the notches 19 in the inner surface of the first leg. The spring 22 may be released from the engaging notches simply by moving the clip member 18 up or down.

The second leg 14 may be termed as the moving or scribing leg in contrast to the first leg 13 which will stay on the geometric center of the configuration to be drawn when the device is used for drawing circles of various radii. The second leg 14 has a cylindrical or tubular body, 24 whose lower end is engaged with a conical bottom cap 25. Incorporated into the body 24 is a mechanism for driving pencil lead 26 into and out of the second leg 14. Such mechanism may be conventional, hence not shown. The pencil lead 26 is preferably caused to move into and out of the second leg by the rotation of the bottom cap member 25 in a manner familiar with the conventional propelling pencils. For the purpose of facilitating the turning of the bottom cap 25, it is preferred to provide knurlings around the outer periphery of the upper end of the cap 25 as shown at 27 in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7.

The second or scribing leg 14 has formed in its tubular body 24 a longitudinal recess 28 for interengagement with the first leg 13 when the compass 12 is held in closed disposition. Such recess preferably extends substantially over the entire length of the body 24 and is configured to fit snugly with the first leg 13.

When using the compass 12 of my invention as a propelling pencil, it may be done simply by turning the bottom cap member 25 of the scribing leg 14 until the pencil-lead 26 peeps out a desired length. If it is desired to use my device also for drawing circles, the first leg 13 may be swung out of the recess 28 by pulling at the clip member 1 8. The center pin 20 which has been retracted within the second leg 14 is now set in its operative position by pulling the clip member 18 downwardly along the longitudinal guide slot 17. As the clip member 18 goes down, the angular projection 23 of the leaf spring 22 is displaced yieldingly downward to engage with one notch after another until it enters and locks in a desired notch. In this manner, the center pin 20 assumes and continues to assume its operative position in the use of the compass it is retracted again into the first leg 13 by pulling the clip member 18 upward.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 8 through 11, the connecting member or knob 16 is formed integrally with the first leg 13'. The second leg 14 is, however, pivotally connected to the first leg 13' in the same manner as in the embodiment first described. It will be appreciated that as the knob 16' is integrally connected to and fixedly extending from the first leg 13' there Will occur no such objectionable sideway rocking or otherwise deflective movements in the knob which would otherwise happen 3 when it is gripped in fingers to rotate the scribing leg about the center pin 20.

As seen from FIGS. 9 to 11, the longitudinal recess 28' formed in the body of the scribing leg 14' is so formed as to receive completely therein the second leg 14' which in turn has its upper portion semicircular in section so that the compass device as a whole presents substantially a true circle in section as shown particularly in FIG. 11. It will also be appreciated that such arrangements in the srtucture of the first and second legs afford compactness and attractive appearance to the compass device.

While I have shown and described two specific embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these embodiments have been advanced merely for purposes of illustration and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A compass device of the type described, comprising a first leg having in section an arcuate upper portion and a closed annular lower portion, said upper portion having a longitudinal slot for receiving and guiding therealong a clip member, said upper portion further having in the inner surface thereof a series of longitudinally disposed notches, a second leg pivotally connected to said first leg and including a tubular body having incorporated therein a mechanism for driving pencil lead into and out of said second leg, and having a longitudinal recess along its side adjacent said first leg, a center pin of the compass slidably and retractively supported by said first leg and having a portion extending to a point adjacent said slot, the upper end of said extending portion being fixedly connected to said clip member, a resilient means securely interposed between said clip and said extending portion and having a projection for engagement with one of said series of notches.

2. A compass device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal recess formed in the body of the second leg is generally configured to fit snugly with the first leg, and the upper portion of the first leg has a semicircular crosssection so that the compass sectionally presents a true circle in closed disposition.

3. A compass device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubular body of the second leg has a conical bottom cap member rotatable for driving pencil lead into and out of the second leg.

4. A compass device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a knob for spinning the compass device is formed integrally with the first leg.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,028,228 6/1912 Lampel 33152(C) 1,312,006 8/1919 Smith 3327(B) 2,637,906 5/1953 Giossi 3327(B) HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner 

